Bicycle



8 sheetssheet 1.

(NoModel.)

H. LA CASSE.

BICYCLE.

ZNO. 524,389. Patented Aug. 14.11894.

' ATTORNEYS..

(No Model.) `s sheets-sheet 2. H. LA GASSE. BICYCLE. No. 524,389. 4 Patented Ag. 14, .1894.

WITNl-:sslis: v INVENTOR #Mm Wm ATTORNEYS,

1H: mums mens co. FHoTaLrro., wAsnwoToN. D: c.

(No Model.) s sheets-'sheet 3.

H. `LA CASSE.

BIGYGLB.

No. 524,389. Patented 411g. 14, 1894.

WITNESSES! INVENTOR d wf/4 J4 BY ATTORNEYS,

Mannes PEYERS co.. Puaaumo.. wAsmm-.Ton n c (NoModel.) g sheets-sheep 4.

H. LA GASSE. BIGYGLB.

No. 524,389. Patented Aug. 14, 1894.

ATTO R N EYS,

8 Sheets--Sheet 6.

E.. S S A C A L H BICYCLE.

TH: nonms PETERS co. PuomLlTwm, wnmmu. n. c.

(Nb Model.) s sheets-sheen 7.

H. LA CASSE. BICYCLE.

WITNESSES: v INVENTOR BY I l l m, W ATTORNEYS,

E Nonms mns co.. mo'mu'mn.. WASHINGTON. b. cA

H. LA CASSE.

" BICYCLE.

8 Sheetsf-Shet 8.

(No Model.)

' Patented Aug. 14, 1894.

l No. 524,389.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LA CASSE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,389, dated August 14, 1894.v

Application inea my 24, 1893.

- act description.

My invention relates to improvements in bicycles of the class set forth in my Patent- No. 518,411, dated April 17,1894, and has for its object the production of a simple, practical, and economically manufactured device which reduces to a minimum the jar experienced by the rider, and is highly efficient and durable in use; and to this end it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed outin the claims.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciticatiomin which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bicycle illustrating the general construction and arrangement of its parts. Fig. 2 is ade-4 tail elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of the upper portion of the frame, a part of the seat support, the handle bar, the brake lever, and the connection between said parts. Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, elevation and top plan viewsof the rear axle, the sprocketwheel thereon and the adjacent parts of the frame. Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, elevation and top plan view of the lower end of the seatsupport, the pedal shaft, the adjacentportions of the frame,and the connections betweenYY the pedal `'shaft and the frame.V Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 7 7, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the frame, the

lower endof the seat support, the pedal shaft.,

the knuckle connecting the frame and pedal shaft, and the front end ot' the link secured to said knuckle. Fig. 9 is a transverse sec tional View, taken on line 9 9, Fig. 8, the parts being shown as outwardly unfolded from their .operative position. sectional View of one of the ball bearing sections seen at Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear axle, taken on j line 11-11, Fig. 3. Figs. 12 and 13 are, re-

` ver.

Fig. 10 is a Serial Nen/181,323. (No model.)

spectively, elevation and top plan view of the upper end of the steering rod shown partly in section at Fig. 12 and the adjacent portion of the handle bar. Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, elevation and top plan View, partly in'section, of the upper end of the frame head in which the steering rod is journaled, a lever hinged to said head, and the adjacent ends ot connections from said lever to the handle bar and the seat support and brake lever. Figs. 16 and 17 are, respectively, vertical sectional View and top plan View, partly in section, of the lower end of said head secured to the frame. Fig. 18 is' an elevation, partly in section, ot

the front axle, the lowerends of the fork, and

the links connecting the said axle and fork. Fig. 19 isanend elevation of the yfront axle having the adjacent end of one of the links secured thereto indicated 'by dotted lines in operative position thereon.' Figs. 2O and 2l l are, respectively, vertical and horizontalisectionalviews of the upper portion of the seat support, the hinged lever secured thereto, and

the adjacent end of the linkbetween saidlel vbrake lever being shown in operative .position at Fig. 23. Fig.'24is an elevation, partlyy in section, of the parts as shown at Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a top plan View of the detached coupling or clip for supporting the brake leper bars a ct having downwardly inclined rear ends, lower bars a a having theirrearends secured to the corresponding ends of the barsl a ct and their front ends inclined upwardly,

Fig. 26 is a detail sectional view, taken `l and an upright head a2 having its opposite extremity securedto the front eudsof the bars d a, a a. ,j ,Y

B C are, respectively, the front and rear wheels, D the fork, and d the steering rodk which is journaled within the frame head ct by upper and lower ball bearings cl cl2. The

Vwhich, as best seen at Fig. 19, are formed angular in cross section.

As clearly seen at Fig. l the links E E incline downwardly and rearwardly from their upper extremities, and consequently the axle b is at the rear of a perpendicular line drawn through the pivotal pins D D of the upper extremities of said links, and in operation the lower' ends of said links swing upwardly as' the front wheel rises over an obstruction. The upper ends of the links E E, as best seen at Fig. 18, are bifurcated and are provided with opposite ball bearing sections e e, and anti-friction balls e are interposed between said sections and opposite ball bearing faces D2-upon the adjacent branches of the fork D for aiding the pivotal movement of the upper ends of the links E E upon the lower ends of the forked branches.

E E are springs having their upper ends secured to the opposite arms of the fork D and their lower ends engaged with the lower ends of the linksE E for normally depressing the lower ends of said links, and D3 E2 are shoulders formed respectively upon the branches ofthe fork D and the links'E E for limiting the upward movement of the front wheel against the action of the springsE i" as the front wheel rises over an obstruction of undue size.

As clearly seen at Fig. 18 the hub li of the v front wheel B is journaled upon the axle b by ball bearing sections b2 b2 arranged at 'the opposite ends of said hub and axle between the links E E.

b4 b4 are screws having their adjacent ends movable within the axle l) and their outer ends formed with heads for securing together the ball bearing sections b2 b3 and holding the links E E from lengthwise movement on the axle b, and ff are supporting tie bars having their -forward ends hinged upon said screws b4 b4 and their rear ends suitably1 connected to a front mud guard F having its upper end hinged' at F to the lower end of the frame head a2. This'is a particularly practical and effective construction of support for the front wheel, as it reduces to a minimum the jar usually transmitted from said wheel to the steering rod, and permits the wheel -to yield practically and effectively when passing over an obstruction even of considerable size. Moreover if, owing toa flaw therein, one of the springs E' the front axle l) downwardly, since the lower ,forward end of the lever H3.

should break, the other forces` ends of the links E E are rigidly secured to said front axle, and, even if both springs should break; the shoulders D3 E2 prevent the wheel from assuming an inoperative position. The pedal shaft G is supported by a knuckle H, a link I, and a spring J for holding said knuckle and link in their normal position.'

As best seen at Figs. l, 3, 4, 8, and 9 the knuckle `H consists of levers H H2 H2. The lever H is of the cross section best seen in Fig. 8, and is disposed normally in a substantially horizontal plane, and its rear extremity is formed with an eye h encircling the central portion of a pin or bolt h having its opposite ends encircled by eyes h2 h2 formed upon the The eye h is provided with a suitable cut'out for receiving the lower end of the seat support, presently described. The forward end of the lever H is formed with eyes h3 h2 encircling the opposite ends of a pin or bolt h4, the central' portion of which is encircled by an eye h5 formed upon the forward end of thev lever H2.

The lever H2 has a curved body forming practically a right angle. Its rear end curves closely over and is disposed aboveits` front j end and above the raised central portion of the lever H', and is formed with an eye h6 encircli-ng the central portion of a pin or bolt hl, the opposite ends of which arev mounted in eyes its 12,8 formed upon a clip or cross bar h2 having its opposite ends rigidly secured tothe lower frame bars et 0,. j

The forward end of the lever H3 extends IOO down wardly, its central portion is formed with a hub hm for receiving the pedal shaft G, and its rear end consists of separated arms h h secured to the forward end of the link I, which consists of separated bars having their rear ends hinged at t' to ears depending from the rear ends of the lower frame bars a a. It is thus readily apparent that the rear end of the lever H swings downwardly as said lever rocks on the pivotal pin or bolt h4," that the forward end of the lever H2 swingsV downwardly and backwardly as said lever rocks upon the pivotal pin or bolt 71,7, and? that the forward end of the lever H2 rigidly secured at its rear end to the link I swings downwardly as said link rocks upon the pivots fz'.

In order to facilitate the movement of the levers H H2 H2 and to reduce to a minimum the friction resultant from said movement the opposite ends of the pivotal pins or bolts h 71.472,7 are provided with ball bearing sections h12 k12 between the adjacent facesof which are interposed anti-friction balls h, The inner ball bearing sections h13 on the pivotal pins or bolts h h4 k7 are seeured'respectively to the eyes h h5 h6 in the usual manner, and the outer ball bearing sections k12 are securedrespectively to the eyes h2 h2, h3 h2, and hs'hs. The bolts or pivotal pins h h4 and 71.7 serve to more firmly secure the ball bearing sections together and to suitably adjust the same.

IOS

IIO

The spring J is composed of an intermedih2 previously described.

The intermediate portion or central cross bar j of the spring J is engaged with notches or seats Zo Zt in a suitable upwardly extending seat support K having its lower end formed with an eye k hinged upon the central por-l tion of the pivotal pin or bolt Zt.

The seat support K and the lever Hicomnected thereto serve as a connection between the intermediate portion or central bar of the spring J and the pedalshaft, which` is journaled in the lever H3. The upper end of this seat support K is hollow, and is formed with a lengthwise slot, not illustrated, and is provided with a clamp k2 for securing in position the usual seat supporti'n g bracket K', the lower end of which enters the upper end of the seat support K.

The seat or saddle K2 is of any desirable form, size, and construction, and is adj ustably secured by a clip K3 to the upper end of the seat supporting bracket K.

The pedal shaft G is provid ed with a sprocket wheel g and with suitable pedal cranks G G', and, in order that said shaft may revolve freely, its opposite ends are encircled with ball bearing sections g g2 secured, respectively to the shaft G and to the hub of the lever H3. vThe adjacent faces of the ball bearing sections g' g2 are formed with grooves g2 g3 of angular cross section, and movable in said grooves are anti-friction balls g4. It -is evident, however, that any suitable construction of ball bearing for the shaft G may be used if desired. This is a particularly simple and `practical construction of support for the seat and the pedal shaft, and it is apparent that, as both the pedal shaft, knuckle H, link I, and the seat support K are held in operative position by the spring J which forms a yielding connection betweenthe. rigid bicycle frame and said parts, the riders body mounted on the seat K2 'and his feet resting ony the ,pedals of the pedalshaft G vibrate in unison,

and consequently the jar transmitted to the rider by the seat and pedals is reduced to a t At the outside-ofthe ball bearing sections c c2 are eyes C4 C4 each provided with. mevable hollow nuts 05 C5 for receiving screw threaded arms projecting from the lower rear extremity ofthe bicycle frame, thus enabling the ready adjustment of the chain C?.

067C are screws having their ends inserted within the ends of the rear axle c, and their heads bearing against the eyes C4y C4 for preventing lengthwise movement of said eyes upon the axle c.'

The brake lever L of my improved bicycle is pivoted to a pin or bolt Z mounted in ears formed upon a clip or tie plate J having its opposite extremities secured to the `downwardly extending ends of the frame bars a a, and its central portion secured tothe central portion of the rear mud guard M. v

The frontextremity ot` the. mud guard M is secured to the lower frame barV a at', and serves to brace or hold apart the central portionsof the upper and lower frame bars a a, a a', and the rear extremity of said mud guard is supported by ties m m arranged at opposite sides of the rear wheel C and having their forward ends secured tothe rear end of the bicycle frame. f

The lower end of the brake lever L is formed with a corrugated or grooved face Z for engaging the tire of the rear wheel C, and the upper endfof said brake lever is formed withZ an arm Z2 extending above the pivotal pin j L is a link having its lower end hinged to the pivotal pin for the brake lever L, and its vupper end provided` with a screw threaded socket Z3 for receiving a head Z,4 journaled in said socket. The central portion of said link is formed with a bearing face Z5 normally separated from the adjacent face of the brake lever arm Z2, as shown by dotted lines atFig. 22. As the upper-end ofthe link L is rocked forwardly the face Z5 engages the adjacent face of the brake lever arm Z2 and forces the lower end of said brake lever into operative engagement with the tire o'f the rear Wheel CQ The handle bar N is of any desirable form, size, and construction, and its central portion is formed with a rearwardly extending arm n provided with a downwardly extending socket n having an opening n2 in its lower extremfv ity and provided also with a nut or cap h3 for closing saidl socket.y j l Pivoted at o to an ear projecting rearwardly from the framehead a2 is the intermediate portion of-a lever O provided at one extrem` ity with an upwardly extending socket of having an aperture o2 in 'its upper end and with a nut or cap o3 for closing said socket.

O is a link provided with upper and lower ball shaped ends O2 O3 movable respectively ICD IE5.. t

IIO

in the socket n of the arm n and the socket o of the lever O. The link O is preferably adjustable lengthwisely in order to accommotion O telescoping within the upper end of the lower section O4 and formed'with notches O; for receiving the inner end of the screw O O are formed with the contracted portions or necks O8 O0 which are adjacent to the ball shaped portions O2 O3, and are registered with the apertures n2 o2 formed respectively in the arm n and the lever O.

j As clearly 'seen at Fig. 14 the ball shaped end O3 of the link O is formed separable fromv the remaining portion of the tubular section O4 of said link upon a short stud or bar hav-V ing its opposite end screw threaded and engaged with the lower end of said section O4.

P is alink arranged in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the forward ends of the frame bars a a and having one end hinged at p to the lower end of the lever O` and the other provided with a head having a concaved rear face and formed with transversely extending sockets p p and a lengthwisely extending socket p2.

P P are heads having screw threaded arms movably mounted in the sockets p p and P2 P2 are rods having their forward ends mounted in sockets 103193 formed in the outer ends of the heads P P' and their rear ends adjustably secured in the opposite ends of the head Z4 by nuts Z0 Z0 bearing upon opposite sides of the opposite ends of said head.

P3 is an arm or guiding bar of rounding cross section having its forward end supported in the socket p2 of the head at the rear end of the link P.

R is a movable support or leverhaving its central portion hinged at 1 to a clip plate R secured at its opposite ends to the central portions of the upper frame bars da and its rear extremity hinged at 0^ to the upper end of the seat support K. The forward end of the lever R is formed with adownturned arm journaled on a movable bar or head R2 of rounding cross section bearing against the rounding rear face of the head at the rear end of the link P and formed with a transverse opening R3 for receiving the guiding bar or arm Y P3 and permitting said arm to move lengthwisely through said head or bar R2.

It will thus be seen that the link O', the link O, 'the link P, the rods P2 P2 and the lever R form a connection between the handle bar N andthe brake lever L, whereby, when the handle bar N is depressed, the brake lever is brought into operation, and that the support or lever R forms a movable connection between the seat support and the brake operating mechanism, whereby the seat and the handle bar move or vibrate in unison.

The brake operating mechanism is held in operative position by a spring S composed of a central bar s, which enters grooves or seats d3 in the frame head a2 and opposite extremi- The outer ends of the sections of the link` ties which are each composed of a central V'coiled portion s and separated arms s2 s3,.the

arms s3 being engaged with the lever O- and the arms S2 being extended to the central cross bar s.

When the rider is not mounted upon the seat or saddle K2 the springJ slightly elevates the seat support above its normal position, and the spring S, which forces the rear end of the link P into engagement with the bar or head R2, slightly elevates the handle bar N above its normal position, and, when the `rider isvupon the seat, both the seat and the handle bar are slightly depressed below their position assumed when the machine is riderless.

In the practical use of my bicyclethe bearing face Z5 of the link L movesv toward and away from the adjacent face of the brakelever L2 as the seat vibrates, but said face is only brought into contact with said brake. le-

ver when the handle bar isA depressed by the rider asufcient distance to engage said parts.

At Fig. 28 I have shown a modifiedform of myimproved bicycle in which the crank shaft G10 is journaled in rigid ears d10 upon the lower frame bars a11, the seat support K10 rigidly secured at its lower end to the lower frame bar a11 and rigidly secured at its upper end to the upper frame bars e012, and the front axle 1910 journaled in the lower ends of the branches of the fork D10.

The brake lever L10 is pivoted at Z10 and a link P10 is secured to its upper endand to the adjacent end of a lever O10 similar to the lever O shown in the preceding figures.

The handle bar N10, the lever O10, the connection O11 between said handle bar and the lever O10, and the spring S10 are similar to the corresponding parts N O O S in the preceding iigures.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing description and upon reference to the drawings, and it IIO will be particularly noted that the frame is extremely durable, owing to its rigidity, and

' that the convenience and pleasure of the rider is greatly enhanced, since his body, feet, and hands vibrate in unison as the bicycle passes over inequalities in the road bed.

It is evident that the detaiLconstruction and arrangement of the'parts of my bicycle may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and consequently I do not herein limit myself to such exact detail construction and arrangement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a frame,a vertically movable seat su-pport flexibly connected to the frame, a handle bar iiexibly connected to said frame and seat support and having its hand engaging portions movable vertically in unison with the seat support and movable vertically independently thereof and a brake connected with the handle bar and applied the independent movement thereof, substantlally as described;l

2. The combination of a frame, a vertically i movable seat support flexibly connected to the frame, a link movable lengthwise of the frame and connected tothe seat support, a

handle bar4 flexibly connected to said frame and seat support and having its hand engaging portion movable verticallyin unison with lthe seat support and similarly movable inde- I pendently thereof, and a second link as O connected by universal connections to the v former link and to the handle bar, whereby the former link is moved lengthwisely as the hand engaging portions Vof the handle bar move vertically, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3, VThe combination of a frame, a-vertically movable seat support flexiblyconnectedto the frame, a spring for forcing the seat sup-r port to 1ts normal position, a link movable lengthwiseof the frame and connected to the seat support, a handle bar liexibly connected to said frame and seat support and having its hand engaging portionsmovable vertically in unison with the seat support and similarly ing a series of levers pivoted to each other and a brake connected with the handle bar and to said pedal-shaft and frame, a vertically movable seat support having one end pivoted to one of the levers comprising said knuckle, and a handle bar flexibly connected to said frame and seat support and having its hand engaging portions movable vertically in unison with the seat support and also movable vertically independently thereof and applied by the independent movement thereof, substantially as specified.

5l The combination of a frame, a movable seat support, a leverl pivoted to the frame and having oneend connected to the seat support, a movable handle bar, a link as P having one end flexibly connected to the handle bar and its other end movable lengthwise in the opposite end of said lever and provided with a shoulder bearing thereagainst, and a spring for forcing said shoulder on the link into engagement with the lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of a frame, a movable seat support, a lever R pivoted to the frame and having one end connected vto the seat support, a movable handle bar having a socket, a lever O. hinged to the frame and position, subformedwith asocket, alink O having'its opposite extremities provided with ball shaped ends mounted within said sockets, a link P having one end iiexibly connected .to thelever O and its other end movable lengthwise.v

in theopposite end of saidv lever R and provided with a shoulder bearing thereagalnst, and a spring for forcing said parts to their normal position, substantially as specified.

7. The combination of a frame, a vertically moving seat support, a lever pivoted to the frame and connected withthe seat support at one end,abar at the other end thereof having a transversel opening, a link movable lengthwise of the frame and having at lts rear end a head with a concave rear vface adapted to bear against said bar,a guiding bar connected with the head andsliding` throughthe opening in said bar, a'brake lever movably mounted on the frame, a rod d etachably engaged with the brake lever and connected with the link, and a hinged handle bar connected to the link for actuating the same, substantially as and for the purpose described. n

8. The combination of a frame, a movable seat support, a'. lever pivoted to the frame and having ono end connected to the seat support, a movabley handle bar, a link P having one end iieXibly connected to the handle bar and its other end movable lengthwise 1n the opposite end of said lever and provided with a shoulder bearing thereagainst, a spring for forcing said shoulder on the link into engagement with the lever, a brake lever movably mounted on the frame, and a rod detachably engaged with the brake lever and connected with the link, substantially as specified.

9. The combination of a frame, a movablev seat support, a lever pivoted to the frame and having one end connected to the seat support, a movable handle bar, alinkP having one end flexibly connected to the handle bar and its other end movable lengthwise 1n the opposite end of said lever-and provided with a shoulder vbearing thereagainst, a spring for forcing said shoulder on ,the link into engagement with the lever, a brake lever movably mounted on the frame and having an arm, a link mounted on the pivot yof the brake lever and havinga bearing face in rear of said arm, and connections between this link and the former link, as and for the ing one end fiexibly connected to the handle bar and its other end movable lengthwise in. the opposite endy of said lever and provided with a shoulder bearing thereagainst, a Spring for forcing said yshoulder onv the link into engagement with the lever, a brake lever movably mounted on the frame and hav- IOO IIO

l Y. i v f .of

ing an arm, a link mountedon the pivot of the brake lever and having a bearing face in rear of said arm, a head journaled in the upper end of this link, and a r'od having one end adjustable in said head and the other end connected Wit-h the former link, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence ofvtwo attesting witnesses, at Rochester, in the oounty of lo' Monroe, in the State of New York, this 18th day of February, 1893.

HENRY LA CASSE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. PARSONS, E. A. WEISBURG. 

